Zone de secours Hainaut-Est (ZOHE) is the rescue zone for Charleroi and 21 other municipalities in eastern Hainaut, from the Sambre valley south to Chimay and the French border: more than 470,000 residents on about 1,234 km². Some 550 to 600 career and volunteer firefighters work from six posts. Career crews staff Marcinelle and its forward post at Jumet, both in Charleroi; mixed crews serve the south. Specialist teams include divers, rope rescuers, chemical and radiological experts and rescue dogs. The zone does not publish yearly call totals or a fleet list. Headquarters are in Marcinelle. In an emergency, dial 112.
Zone headquarters (non-emergency)
+32 71 75 14 14- info@zohe.be; fire prevention: prevention@zohe.be
- Rue de la Tombe 112, 6001 Marcinelle (Charleroi), Belgium
- zohe.be
- Office hours: Not published
Who Provides Fire Protection in Zone de secours Hainaut-Est
Since 2015, Belgian fire services are organized in rescue zones (zones de secours) run by their member municipalities; Hainaut-Est was set up on January 1, 2016. It covers 22:
- Charleroi and the north — Charleroi, Châtelet, Farciennes, Aiseau-Presles, Fleurus, Les Bons Villers, Pont-à-Celles, Courcelles, Fontaine-l'Évêque, Anderlues and Montigny-le-Tilleul.
- Thudinie and the Sambre valley — Thuin, Lobbes, Merbes-le-Château, Erquelinnes, Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes and Gerpinnes.
- The Botte du Hainaut (south) — Beaumont, Froidchapelle, Sivry-Rance, Chimay and Momignies.
The zone counts about 550 to 600 operational staff, career (pompiers professionnels) and volunteer (pompiers volontaires); it publishes no split. Its four departments cover prevention, planning, training and operations. Volunteers at the mixed posts must live within 10 km of their post.
Fire Posts in Zone de secours Hainaut-Est
| Post | Type | Location | Specialist teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poste de Fleurus | Not published | Fleurus (building closed 2021, crews merged with Jumet) | Not published |
| Poste avancé de Jumet | Career | Jumet, Charleroi | Not published |
| Poste de Marcinelle | Career | Marcinelle, Charleroi | Not published |
| Poste de Thuin | Combination | Thuin | Not published |
| Poste de Beaumont | Combination | Beaumont | Not published |
| Poste de Chimay | Combination | Chimay | Not published |
The zone lists six posts but publishes no post addresses or phone numbers. In 2021 the Fleurus building closed early for its condition and staff shortages; a merger with Jumet was planned. Dial 112 for emergencies.
Estimated Response Time
Six posts share about 1,234 km², so the average distance to the nearest post is roughly 8.1 km (5.0 mi). With about 380 residents per km² and mixed crews, the zone uses the suburban/combination column of our baseline table. Charleroi is much denser and is covered by two career posts, Marcinelle and Jumet, so the city uses the career column. The rural south, with only Thuin, Beaumont and Chimay, sees the longest distances.
| Radius | Charleroi posts (career) | Southern posts (combination) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 2.4 km | 4–6 min | 5–8 min |
| 2.4–4.8 km | 6–8 min | 7–10 min |
| 4.8–9.7 km | 8–11 min | 9–13 min |
| > 9.7 km | 11+ min | 13+ min |
Typical expectation: about 6–8 minutes in most of Charleroi, 8–11 minutes in its outer suburbs, and 9–13 minutes or more in the Thudinie and the Botte du Hainaut, where villages can lie well over 10 km from a post.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Grass patch, dumpster, small vehicle | 5–20 min |
| Medium | Room-and-contents, car fully involved | 15–45 min |
| Large | Whole house, commercial unit | 45–120 min |
| Major | Multi-alarm, industrial, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Charleroi is an old industrial city on the Sambre, with large vacant industrial buildings, dense terraced housing and Brussels South Charleroi Airport at Gosselies. When fire destroyed the former Gosselies swimming pool in June 2021, the zone sent three full turnouts at once, about 30 firefighters, rising to some 50; it asked Hainaut-Centre for a drone and Val de Sambre to measure air pollution. The south is farmland and forest around the Eau d'Heure lakes and Chimay, where water supply and distance lengthen big fires.
Apparatus & Equipment
The zone lists its vehicle types but publishes no fleet count: fire engines (autopompes), water tankers (citernes), aerial ladders and platforms, and ambulances. Specialist teams (numbers not published):
- Divers (plongeurs)
- Rope rescue (grimpeurs)
- Chemical and radiological experts
- Rescue dog handlers
- Exotic-pet experts; attack-victim extraction
- Hazmat
- Radiological
- Dive rescue
- Rope rescue
- Search dogs
- Ambulance (EMS)
Zone de secours Hainaut-Est in Numbers
- 22 municipalities, more than 470,000 residents and 123,417 ha (about 1,234 km²)
- 6 posts and about 550–600 career and volunteer staff
- Yearly call totals: Not published
Services & Community Programs
- Recruitment of career and volunteer firefighters and administrative staff: zohe.be.
- Fire prevention advice and inspections: prevention@zohe.be.
- Wasp and hornet nests: online request form on zohe.be.
Ratings & Accreditation
Belgium has no public fire-protection rating comparable to the US ISO classification. Not applicable.
Outdoor burning: In Wallonia, burning waste in the open air is banned. Dry natural plant waste is the only exception, and a fire must stay at least 100 m (330 ft) from houses, orchards, hedges, crops and stacks, and 25 m (80 ft) from woods (Rural Code, art. 89). Wet plant waste and fresh grass clippings may not be burned, and municipalities can add rules or drought bans. Take garden waste to a recyparc and ask your municipality before lighting any outdoor fire.
Neighboring Rescue Zones
- Zone de secours Hainaut-Centre, Hainaut Province (west: La Louvière and Binche posts)
- Zone de secours du Brabant Wallon, Walloon Brabant (north: Nivelles post)
- Zone de secours Val de Sambre, Namur Province (east: Sambreville and Fosses-la-Ville posts)
- Zone de secours Dinaphi, Namur Province (east and southeast: Florennes, Cerfontaine, Philippeville and Couvin posts)
- France (south: Nord, Aisne and Ardennes departments)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for the fire service in Charleroi?
The Hainaut-Est zone's general number is +32 71 75 14 14 (Rue de la Tombe 112, Marcinelle). For any fire or medical emergency, dial 112.
Which municipalities does Zone de secours Hainaut-Est cover?
22 municipalities, including Charleroi, Châtelet, Fleurus, Courcelles, Thuin, Beaumont, Chimay and Momignies.
Are Charleroi's firefighters paid?
Charleroi's posts at Marcinelle and Jumet are staffed by career firefighters. Thuin, Beaumont and Chimay are mixed posts with career and volunteer crews.
How fast does the fire service respond in Hainaut-Est?
Response times are not published. We estimate 6–8 minutes in most of Charleroi and 9–13 minutes or more in the rural south.
Can I burn garden waste in Charleroi or Thuin?
Only dry plant waste, at least 100 m from houses and 25 m from woods, under Walloon rules and local bylaws. Household waste may never be burned. Ask your municipality first.
Last verified:
- FPS Home Affairs — Rescue zone contacts (April 17, 2026) (members, HQ, phone)
- ZOHE — About the zone (municipalities, population, area, posts, staff, neighbors)
- ZOHE — Departments (6 posts, 550 staff, specialist teams, vehicle types)
- ZOHE — Contact
- ZOHE — Volunteer firefighter call, 2021 (via Beaumont) (mixed posts, 10 km rule)
- ZOHE — Volunteer call for Thuin, Beaumont and Chimay (June 2026, via UVCW)
- RTBF — Garden fires: rules and distances (2026)
- DH — Fleurus post closing (2021)
- DH — Gosselies pool fire (2021)